Perfume Review: Elie Saab Le Parfum

Lebanese fashion designer Elie Saab has launched the first signature fragrance for women, Elie Saab Le Parfum, created by renowned perfumer Francis Kurkdjian. Classified as a woody floral scent, the notes include orange blossom, jasmine, rose honey, patchouli and cedar. If you are familiar with Francis Kurkdjian's work, you'll know that he is an expert when it comes to florals such as orange blossom, rose and jasmine, therefore it is not surprising that he created yet another beautiful scent, well executed and very wearable.

More after the jump

Elie Saab Le Parfum stays true to the official description of the fragrance and the list of notes, they are pretty much what you're going to smell. Even upon my very first try, the scent smelled like everything the designer and the perfumer described. Perfect fit. Elie Saab said he wanted to create a fragrance that is an "ode to light" and "expresses a radiant femininity". Francis Kurkdjian said that he felt he had to "translate a brilliant femininity": "what I found fascinating in working for Elie Saab, was the idea of interpreting light; I didn’t have any specific images in mind, just sensations: the whiteness of the sun at its zenith, radiant femininity, a modern interpretation of voluptuousness." They nailed it.

Orange blossom and jasmine are the main players here, wrapped in rose honey, over a light, woody base of clean patchouli and cedar. The rose honey adds a touch of sweetness to the concoction, making the florals warm and rounded, with no rough edges. The fragrance is luminous and utterly feminine; a 'sunshine in a bottle' type of scent, which makes it perfect for spring/summer wear, but ultimately, it is a perfume for all seasons. It is bright, lovely, elegant, timeless and it perfectly compliments Elie Saab's designs. The lasting power is very good. This is a fragrance you will want to try. I predict it will become a modern classic in no time.

Elie Saab Le Parfum is available in 30ml, 50ml, 90ml Eau de Parfum and in matching body products (shower gel 200 ml, body lotion 200 ml, body cream 150 ml and deodorant spray 100 ml). The ad campaign is fronted by Anja Rubik (pictured below).

You can find it at leading department stores and beauty retailers such as UK - Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols; US - Neiman Marcus, Saks, Nordstrom; Europe -  Douglas, Sephora and online at Escentual.com 

Review based on the bottle that I purchased myself.

Have you tried Elie Saab Le Parfum yet? What do you think of it?